Chapter 179 - 74: We Take Nothing But the Sign
"These conditions must be unconditionally accepted by your Sandglass Group. Otherwise, we will use every means necessary to reclaim all industries along the Shule River!"
"Bang!"
Yahiko, exuding an air of dominance, slammed the table and pushed a document toward Yashamaru, the manager of the Sandglass Group's Rain Country branch.
Behind him, Nagato and Daibutsu, acting as bodyguards, straightened their backs and took a half-step forward, seemingly in sync with Yahiko's rhythm, applying even more pressure on the other side of the negotiation table.
Yashamaru, however, remained unhurried and unruffled. He calmly opened the document, carefully turned the pages, and began reading it thoroughly.
Yahiko restrained the excitement surging within him. At this moment, he was accomplishing a feat that even his idol, Tadano Myawata, had not achieved—nationalizing "foreign capital" and returning the wealth created by the people of Amegakure to its rightful owners. Just the thought of it filled him with exhilaration.
The reason Yahiko didn't choose to expel the Sandglass Group through violence was a result of careful consideration. Opting for a "peace before force" approach stemmed from his understanding that Sunagakure (Hidden Sand Village) was no pushover, and the Third Kazekage Jinghang was no incompetent figure like Rain Shadow Nenshin Kongo. Currently, Sunagakure was at its peak strength, and any rash actions would undoubtedly provoke a fierce retaliation.
This was, after all, a village that had gone to war with Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) over twenty-four workers and had annihilated the eastern and western deserts of the Land of Wind over a fifty-person caravan. They were not to be trifled with.
Moreover, the Sandglass Group had been entrenched along the Shule River for nearly a decade, with deeply rooted influence. Despite being a foreign entity, they had provided indirect protection to the local populace along the river. Apart from the chaos caused by the "Dawn Rebellion," there had been no significant bloodshed, and the Sandglass Group enjoyed considerable support among the locals.
However, Yahiko knew he needed to take a stand. On one hand, Akatsuki had just assumed power in the Land of Rain and had been formally recognized by the daimyo. Without tangible achievements, how could the people distinguish the new "government" from the old one?
On the other hand, the temptation was simply too great. The Sandglass Group's assets included a ninja tool factory, a canning factory, a logistics center, an office building, two iron mines, two direct-owned stores, three hotels, and various other riverfront businesses. The total value was astronomical—so much so that Yahiko, who wasn't great at math, couldn't even calculate it. But he knew it was a fortune. With this wealth, he could recruit more soldiers, expand his forces, and build a strong, democratic, and free nation.